Last updated - November 21, 2024
A website is created for many reasons: it can be for business, a personal portfolio, or maybe even just to keep up with the need to be digitally present. Creating a website is an exciting process! But for a beginner, it can seem quite like a task. In reality, website hosting for beginners is not a technically intensive process
Here in this blog, let’s break down the different ways in which you can ace your website hosting as a beginner.
What is Website Hosting?
Website hosting, in simple terms, is similar to how you rent a space in the real world for your shop! Through web hosting, you are renting a space for your website. Hosting provides supply servers and these servers hold all your data ranging from texts, images, codes, etc.
This web server’s main job is to take in the incoming requests from users and give them back the requested page to their browser.
Basics of Website Hosting for Beginners
The two basic things you need to have for hosting a website are:
- Web hosting provider
- Domain Name
Web hosting provider gives you the space that we were talking about earlier to host your website. The website hosting providers help handle the technical part of getting your website out there.
The next step that web hosting for beginners should know about is the name itself. For users to get to your website, they need a name. So ideally, it is necessary to get the name that represents your business and to make sure that the name is available with the domain registrar.
Once you are done with the above, the next step is to choose the right website hosting for your website.
Different Types of Website Hosting
Picking the right web hosting is essential. Let’s see the different hosting types to make easy website hosting for beginners:
- Shared Hosting: It is one of the most affordable methods of hosting. If you are looking for a personal blog or portfolio and you have a small budget, then this will be the ideal hosting choice.
- VPS Hosting: Virtual Private Server hosting is again another type of shared hosting. What makes it different from shared hosting, is that it brings in more control and also an option to handle traffic spikes. This can be a good option for growing and medium websites.
- Dedicated Hosting: If you have a large website, then it cannot contain itself in shared or VPS hosting. Dedicated hosting is an expensive affair and thus not a good pick for small and medium websites. As it’s a dedicated server, you will need to learn to it manage on your own.
- Cloud Hosting: It has a different take when compared to traditional hosting methods. In this, the data is hosted in not just one server but across multiple servers under the same network. E-commerce sites and sites with variable traffic can resort to cloud hosting.
- Managed Hosting: If you are ready to put in that extra penny, then you can give the management of your website to the hosting providers. So, a beginner with no technical expertise or someone who doesn’t have the time can opt for managed hosting. WordPress-managed hosting is one of the most popular choices.
Step-by-Step Guide to Website Hosting for Beginners
Choosing a Hosting Provider and a Hosting Plan
There are many hosting providers that beginners can choose from. Some of the different hosting providers that you can choose from are Hostinger, Bluehost, Turnkey Hosting, HostGator, GoDaddy, etc. Let’s see the pricing of these hosting providers:
- Hostinger brings about budget-friendly plans for beginners and starts from $1.95/month
- Bluehost plans are specifically for beginners and WordPress users and start at $2.95/month
- SiteGround is your choice if you are looking for managed hosting and the pricing plan kickstarts from $2.99/month
- HostGator shared hosting plans start from $3.75/month
- GoDaddy is known for its hosting plus domain registration services starting around $2.99/month
Most hosting providers give away introductory price offers for the first year with or without domain registration. The prices vary depending on the additional features you add to the hosting plan. There are also chances of hidden fees; therefore, before picking the plan, check out for these.
Registering a Domain Name
We have already discussed what a domain name is and now let’s get to the bottom of how to register it. Most hosting providers give you a free domain for the first year. If it’s not there, you can purchase it from GoDaddy, NameCheap, Hostinger, etc.
All you have to do is type in the name that resonates with your business and see if it is available. So, make sure to have a list of names before fixing the right domain name.
Purchase the Hosting Plan and Link your Domain Name
Now, you can purchase a plan and a domain name. Choose a plan that fits your budget and requirements and also the domain registration if it comes with the hosting plan. If you have registered the domain name elsewhere, you have to now link it with the hosting provider by updating the DNS settings.
Most providers provide an easy-to-use setup tool for managing the hosting account. This is a major part of website hosting for beginners.
Setting up SSL Certificate
An SSL Certificate helps you with the security of your website while transferring information from one point to the other. It alone allows using HTTPS protocol. You can activate the SSL certificate from the control panel of your hosting provider.
It is very essential to have this on your website especially if you are dealing payment information of your users.
How to Choose the Right Hosting Provider?
As there are many alternatives when it comes to choosing the right website hosting providers, let’s consider some pointers to make sure that the right decision is being made:
- Website Need: Anticipating the kind of traffic that you might pull in and the size of the website you are planning to build can help choose the right hosting as well as the hosting provider. If you are building an e-commerce site, then it will be favorable to go for a hosting provider that helps with such kind of scalability.
- Compare Prices: As there are many options to pick from, you can compare different prices and features and choose the right one that fits your budget.
- Customer Reviews: User testimonials and reviews can play a good part in making the right choice. Grievance redressal and technical assistance at the right time are very necessary for someone who’s doing website hosting for the first time.
Final Wrap
Starting your website hosting journey can feel overwhelming, but by following these steps, you’re well on your way to creating a strong online presence.
FAQs
- What is website hosting?
Website Hosting is a service that helps store your files on a server, making it accessible to users worldwide. It is a necessity if you want to get your website to every nook and corner of the world.
- Which type of hosting is best for my website?
There are different types of hosting available. The choice of hosting relies on the size of the website, the kind of traffic that comes to the website, the budget for hosting, etc.
- Can I switch hosting providers?
Yes, you can switch between hosting providers and within the plans. But make sure to have your backup intact and also expect downtime while doing the same.
- I am new to web hosting. What should I look for in a hosting provider?
It will be good to choose a hosting provider that has a beginner-friendly setup, good pricing, and great technical support.
- How does an SSL certificate help?
SSL certificate helps with the security of your website and ensures that all the information transferred from one point to another is safe.
